05.26.10* Updated for latest versions.* Moved Changelog to end of this post.* Reviewed/edited for consistency & clarity.* For a time nvidia-kernel-source was broken in Debian, this patched version worked in the meanwhile: 195.36.24-0 0 500 http://frickelplatz.de sid/non-free Packages I'd like to say thanks for that!

* Debian Nvidia is now back on track for Sid & Testing

BEFORE you get started:

If you need X windows until such time that you are able to get the Nvidia driver built simply use the vesa or nv driver in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.

If you used the Nvidia installation script to install you should first use the Nvidia method to uninstall that driver before continuing on. I can't say that it will or won't cause problems.____________________________________________________________Available Nvidia versions:

PART 2Obviously if you're already using the nvidia driver there is probably no need to edit xorg.conf. Just restart your login manager. If you have not yet set up xorg.conf to use the nvidia driver, create or modify your current file. An example from my laptop:

EXPERIMENTAL REPO METHODThis is for experienced users or at least those who do not mind fixing what they break. Sometimes the latest Nvidia is in experimental a while before reaching Unstable. If you need the experimental version read on...

Changelog:2.19.07Tidied up a bit. Changed the subject line to be a bit more accuarate.4.13.07Tidied up some more.Updated.4.23.07Updated.7.6.07Updated for latest Nvidia driverChanged subject line again. Sorry.....8.5.07Checked for accuracy. Added nvidia-xconfig.10.7.07Updated for latest Nvidia driver - added more detailed Howto for building driver before booting into new kernel.09.14.08Realtime kernel & nvidia?See here.12.08.08Added contribnon-free sources.list entries Added example xorg.conf Device sectionUpdated01.12.09Updated for latest Nvidia versions.03.02.09Updated for latest Nvidia versions.09.03.09Updated for latest Nvidia versions.09.30.09Updated for latest Nvidia versions.

Last edited by mzilikazi on 2010-05-27 02:50, edited 22 times in total.

Didn't you forget to make experimental lower priority than stabel testing and sid (and Sarge, Etch)?
Or else wouldnt all experimental packages get into your system next apt-get update && apt-get upgrade ?

I think you need to lock version to others, and only allow nvidia to be installed from experimental.

AJxn, I'm thinking of upgrading my nVidia card. At the present I'm using Nvidia's driver. I understand mzilikazi's instructions. But your's leave me a little bewildered. Could you please give us a little more on how to "...lock version to others, and only allow nvidia to be installed from experimental."

At this time I've got two PC. One has Sid and my main machine has Etch. Both with the official Nvidia drivers. Don't want to screw them up.

You don't need to worry about things getting inadvertently updated from experimental. Apt won't update from there unless you specifically tell it to. Also, unless you have a very specific need, I wouldn't update from there anyway. The original post describes the update from sid or testing. That should be all you need.

I reread mzilikazi's post. I see where one could install the 'standard' Debian nvidia driver or, as mzilikazi writes, go for the bleeding edge. I don't need to go there. So there is no need for me to add an experimental repo to my source list. Correct?

So his instructions contain two ways: One for the excepted standard driver and the other for the experimental driver. Yes?

Edit: Oops I see the most complex instructions were for Experimental. My mistake.

Sure you can run the installer from Nvidia - but as the topic mentions this is a howto for the Debian way not the Nvidia way. I also run a script - 1 command and Nvidia works. Some advantages this method gives is the ability to boot multiple kernels with each kernel having its own nvidia kernel module. That is not possible using Nvidias script. Also you have just another .deb on your system that you can remove anytime you like.

This one saved me and has worked flawlessly ever since. After using Etch for about three months and taking all of the updates as they came along, I rebooted one day and the display manager would not start. All I got was:
"FATAL Module Nvidia Not found."

1 is installing the official 'debianized way' - handy if you use multiple kernels.

The other is the 'nvidia way' - only supports 1 kernel.

Unless your planning on having lots of concurrent kernel versions available.. I'd say stick with the nvidia one. I'd say its easier.. but you'll still need to use aptitude to grab yourself the linux-headers for your current kernel... unless of course you've already dived into a custom kernel, in which case you've prolly still got em lying around.

Using rm -rvf * to remove old backups... lazy.
Realising you were in / as root ... priceless.